Juxtaposed in their differences, Robert Pinsky and Louise Gluck read their favorite poems by other poets at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival, Lowell High School Auditorium, 7pm to 8pm on Saturday night, October 17^th.   Both poets’ styles served the poems they read well, if in different ways.  Pinsky brought his magnetic personality to bear, flavoring each poem with his personal style.  Gluck, on the other hand, let the words hang in the air as if untouched by her, hung there with such deft gentleness and detachment, it is almost as if they had voiced themselves. 

Longtime friends, the poets worked well together.  At one point Gluck changed her program last minute because of the poem Pinsky had chosen to read immediately before her, and, not in possession of a copy of William Butler Yeats’ Sailing to Byzantium, she was able to borrow a copy on the spot from Pinsky.  Why?  Because Sailing to Byzantium is also one of his favorite poems, but, more importantly, because he keeps an anthology of 250 of his favorite poems to serve as a reference to points he might want to illustrate during lectures or workshops.  

Pinsky urged all poets to type such an anthology for themselves, because in seeing great words “in your own font”, you may be inspired someday to “write something good.”   This wording was telling, since, when a great poet reads, a large part of the audience will necessarily be made up of poets.  This poet will take his advice to heart; I will begin selecting poems for my anthology this week. 

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